Improvement in safety gun-locks



u. H. MAPOTHER. Safety Gun Lorcks.

Patented Jan. 28, 1873.

AM. PHOfU-UTHOGRAPHIC co. N (0sson-s': PRacEs "UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

IMPRQVEMENT iN SAFETY GUN-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,233, dated January 28,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DILLON H. MAPOTHER, of the city of Louisville, county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain Improvements in a Safety Device for Gun- Locks, and the peculiar manner by means of which it is operated, of which the following is a specification:

The first part of my invention relates more especially to the combination of additional att-achments to the look, by means of which the hammer is securely locked when set in any position, thereby rendering it perfectly secure from premature discharge either by accident or from other causes, the hammer being securely locked on the cap when down. Neither can it be discharged when cooked without the required twofold action of the hand upon the lever and slide at one and the same time. The second part of my invention relates to the devices used as a substitute for triggers, which consist, first, in a small thumbslide in the stock behind the look, by means of which the hammer-lock is operated or detached in order to discharge the gun. The second part consists in a small lever se cured to the stock by a hinge-joint at the for ward end, and is partially sunk in the stock on the under side, as shown in the drawing, and is also so arranged as to be operated by the grasp of the hand as the gun is held in position, which brings the thumb at the same time to rest directly on the slide ready to detach the hammenlock as the lever below is pressed up against the dog-leg of the lock, which requires a double or twofold action of the hand to operate both at the same time, in order to discharge the gun. This last-named trigger-lever when not in use may be securely locked by means of a small slide-bolt at the end, which renders it perfectly secure from accident. The object of this my invention is to provide each gun-lock with a device or attachment by means of which the gun may be rendered perfectly secure from premature discharge, either from accident or any other cause, from the fact that it requires a duplex or twofold action of the hand to grasp and operate both slide and lever at one and the same time, without which it would be impossible to discharge the gun, which renders it perfectly safe under all circumstances.

Figure l is a view of the gun with a part of the stock broken off, in order to show the interior of the lock. Fig. 2 is the trigger-lever, showing the hinge, spring, and lock-bolt at the end. Fig. 3 shows the tumbler with the lock-catches in the lower part thereof. Fig. 4 represents the bridle and key-socket of the hammer-lock. Fig. 5 shows the catch-key, set-screw, and spring belonging to the lastnalned key-socket. Fig. 6 shows the arm and spring by which the lock-key is operated. Fig. 7 shows the thumb-slide by which the gun is discharged.

In the drawing, A is the stock of the gun B are the barrels; (l O are the nipples, all of which parts are made similar to those now in use. I) is the plate of the lock; E is the hammer; F is the mainspring; G is the dogspring; H is the tumbler; O is the dog-leg, all of which parts are made similar to that of the ordinary gun-lock, except the tumbler H, which has a lug and notch, indicated by the letters T T, in the lower part, to answer as catches for the lock-key K. I is the bridle, which constitutes the basis of my invention. This bridle is made of metal and in form as shown in the drawing, and is secured firmly to the lockplate by means of screws at one end, while the other is made to lap over the face of the tum bler, but not to rest on it; and is further provided with a small socket or barrel secured across the face in nearly a perpendicular position, and has a small slot in the lower end sufficiently large for the head of the key K to work in. K is the last-named key, by means of which the tumbler H is locked. V is an adjusting-screw to regulate the length of the key K. K is a set-screw in the stock to regulate the movement required to discharge the gun. W is a spiral spring to replace the key after being detached from the notches in the tumbler as the gun is discharged. TT is the lug and notch in the tumbler. L is an anglearm attached loosely to the end of the bridle I, for the purpose of operating the lock-key K. N is a thumb-slide to be used in lieu of a trigger, by which to discharge the gun, when used in connection with the lever P, the end bein g fixed in a notch behind the turn of. the arm L, and is kept in its place by a flat piece entering a slit across the notch. This last-named thumb-slide N is made to work through the stock back of the hammer, and is kept in its place by a pin through a slot near the center. P is alever under the stock,to be used as a substitute for a trigger, when used in connection with the slide N, and is made about eight or more inches long, and so formed as to nearly correspondwith the turn of the stock, as shown in the drawing, and is partially sunk in the stock, leaving room above to permit it to be pressed up against the dog-leg to discharge the gun, and is also heldv in its place by a hinge-joint in front, and when not in use is securely locked at the back end by means of a sliding bolt, S, across the joint. Qis a spring to replace the lever P after being pressed up. R is the knob of the lock-bolt S.

The above invention, as described, may be used on all kinds of fire-arms, whether they be single or double barrels or breech-loading.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, its operation, so far as cocking is concerned, is similar to the ordinary gun; but, in order to discharge it, it requires the key K to be released from the lug T, which looks the hammer down on the cap; and to do thisit becomes necessary to project it beyond the line of the tumbler by pressing the thumb-slide N, which is accomplished by the natural grasp of the stock, and therefore requires a twofold action of the hand to press up the lever P, and also touch the thumb-slide N at the same time, without which the gun cannot be discharged, but with it the most delicate touch will discharge it.

I do not claim anything as new either in the stock or barrels of the gun; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. The combination of the bridle I with its key-socket J, key K, and operating-arm L, and the tumbler H, with its notch and lug T T, when arranged, constructed, and operated substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The devices in the former claim, in connection with the thumb-slide N and lever P, with its spring Q, bolt S, and knob B, when arranged, constructed, and operated substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

DILLON H. MAPOTHER.

Witnesses:

J uLIUs BARBARUX, FRANK B. lVIETZGEH. 

